Durham and Ontario reach compromise on Region's official plan

DURHAM -- Ontario and Durham have reached a compromise on the Region's official plan that protects northeast Pickering from urban expansion, to the delight of Ajax.

On Dec. 4, Durham agreed to protect prime agricultural land at the headwaters of Carruthers Creek, following a lengthy battle between Ajax, Ontario, Pickering and the Region. The settlement, which also included other concessions by Durham, staved off what could have been a pricey, taxpayer-funded court battle over the plan.

The fight over Durham's Official Plan Amendment 128, known as ROPA 128, began when it was released in 2009. Laid out in the document were plans to develop 1,200 hectares of northeast Pickering farmland into housing for 30,000 people, a plan supported by Pickering.

Ontario, Ajax and various environmental groups opposed building over the agricultural area, arguing it was an irresponsible and unnecessary waste of farmland and green space, as well as an inefficient use of land and infrastructure. It was also argued the development would cause massive downstream flooding that would bring financial and infrastructure burdens for Ajax, as well as threaten the ecology of the Carruthers Creek watershed, which flows downstream through the town to Lake Ontario.

"We're very pleased," he said. "We see this as a vindication of our position, which was based very much on the environment, very much on anti-sprawl, based on preservation of agricultural lands and respecting the delicate balance of the Carruthers Creek watershed, which is very susceptible to massive urbanization ... The protection of this environmentally sensitive area is a huge victory for proponents of complete, sustainable communities, such as the Town of Ajax. Reinvesting and developing within municipalities should be the priority, before paving greenfields outside of urban boundaries."

Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan was not immediately available to comment on the settlement, but has previously voiced strong support for developing the area, calling it important for the City's future.

Mayor Parish noted northeast Pickering can no longer be considered for development unless the Region demonstrates a clear need for urbanizing the area, and completes full watershed studies of the Carruthers and Duffin creeks watersheds to show development there won't harm local ecosystems.

Dr. Rick Smith, of Environmental Defence, praised the move.

"This is an important decision. Thanks to the leadership shown by Ajax, the bar is now set a lot higher for sustainable urban planning across Canada," he said. "Protecting prime farmland, nature and the watersheds that sustain people and the planet are the starting points for sound and sustainable planning."

Now that the area is guarded from extensive urbanization, Ajax would like it further preserved by being added to the Province's Greenbelt, an environmentally protected area that surrounds northeast Pickering to the north, east and west. Greenbelt lands are next up for review in 2015.

"We need the assistance of the Region of Durham and the City of Pickering to do that," Mayor Parish said. "But we hope it would receive the type of consideration that it very much deserves."

Durham's official plan provides the framework for municipalities' future growth and development planning. The plan's next review is expected to start in 2018.
Reporter Tara Hatherly can be found on Twitter @Tara_Hatherly and on Facebook by searching Tara Hatherly.